Breaking news in Italy suggests that Gonazalo Higuain has already completed a medical and will join Juventus.
Sky Sport Italia make the bold claim that Pipita has already undergone medical tests in Madrid and that the Bianconeri will pay the €94m release clause to Napoli.
The report also suggests that Higuain has signed a 4-year contract tying him to Juventus until 2020, earning him €7.5m per year.
Corriere della Sera reported earlier today that Higuain had already found a property in Turin and that the move was underway.
It’s not a stretch to imagine that this move, if it takes place, could mean the transfer of Paul Pogba from Juventus to Manchester United.
Higuain’s 36 goals last season [@LadsOffThePitch]https://t.co/c3aRed3GjN
— Juvefc.com (@juvefcdotcom) July 23, 2016
Madness.
If we can get 4-5 stellar seasons out of him, then it will be worth it I think. Anyway, this management knows far far more than we do.
Been routing around UK forums. General opinion is that Juve are mugging UTD @ 100m fee, Paul Scholes has been very vocal about the price being way too high. But in return Juve are being mugged for so much money for an old player.
Phrase being repeated by many: only winners in this are Napoli.
jesus christ. this isnt true…. right? 94M and thats just the damn transfer fee.
Great
His face looks better here Ellisomo…
https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fmygypsyspirit.files.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F10%2Fesperar-volvera-gonzalo-higuain-operacion_iecima20110111_0078_81.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fmuzul.com%2Fbeauty%2Fgonzalo-higuain%2F&docid=XYyrhrC8CPVPQM&tbnid=sAx0L8A97GfpeM%3A&w=800&h=600&client=tablet-android-google&bih=1024&biw=768&ved=0ahUKEwj5vYf9u4nOAhWqKcAKHXiECyoQMwgmKAMwAw&iact=mrc&uact=8
Great signing.
Our management is pulling out another “Zidane” . If they manage to bring a replacement for pogba, then we are automaticaly among the favourites for CL!
For those who think that the fee is to high:
-First , not every player is purchased as an investement for the future. Let him play 3-5 years and end his career in Juve or leave as free agent for china as soon as he scores his fair ammount of goals every year until then(we are not a selling Club after all).
-Second, I do not care if he scores in big matches, What I want him to do, is to score against medium to small teams , clear the games and allow Allegri to rotate, especialy our midfield, with Marchisio condition unknown and Khedira so prone to injuries.
I stick to my earlier conclusion on Marchisio in that we will probably not see him return to full fitness until early 2017.
To put the fee/finances of this deal into perspective:
Pogba we made 100m euro’s profit at least including his wages with us over the years if a 100+ m £’s deal is going through
Morata we pretty much broke even including his wages with us after 30m RM buyback
Higuain based on a 100% total depreciation to zero value at end of contract, and factoring in his 30m euros salary over 4 years will have cost Juve 31m euros for each and every season he is with us! Think about that. Good value? Keeping inline with our sensible finances policy?
Each, to their own opinion but I know what I think…
Just got back from the Juve match…and found this news, which is a bother. And if true, means assuredly that Pogba is sold.
I will conjure a report of the Juve game in due course, yet I just respond to this news. Which seems credible.
Firstly the vale of the transfer is interesting solely in terms of who else we could have signed with the Pogba money. Which will be well above 100m I presume. If we didnt have 100+ coming in, we simply would not have spent 94m on Higuain.
His resale value will be very low indeed, a total loss on the investment in terms of prospective fees when he moves on. Yet we have not purchased him for his resale value, we have purchased him to make a statement to the club and the world that we are very serious indeed about the champions league. And where else in the squad could we viably improve?
Both flanks are rock solid. As is the midfield, defence and goalkeeper positions. Up top, we have Dybala who is world class in my opinion already and has further room to blossom. Which leaves one position which can be improved, namely a prima punta.
I do not believe Pogba is anywhere near as consistently a match winner as Higuain. He scored 36 in 35 games in Serie A last term, which is world class, ever more impressive given the greater tactical approach found in Serie A. He is very much at the peak of his powers and could remain so for the next 3 years.
In short, we may have signed a world class striker who is in the very peak of his career. And a world class striker to play alongside Dybala was the only element lacking in an otherwise world class side.
How often did Pogba truly shine last season? How often did he deliver match winning performances? He struggled more than most with Pirlo, Tevez and Vidal removed from the equation. Compare this with how many match winning performances Higuain delivered, for a side which I believe is weaker than Juve. The move begins to make sense. And almost guarantees a 6th straight scudetto and alongside Pjanic, Alves and Pjaca, represents a very serious charge for the champions league.
The only negative could be how else the Pogba money could be spent. Yet I cannot see any proven world class strikers we could have invested the money in, with such huge experience at the top level. There are a few younger players who could be worth a punt of sorts, who have never played in Serie A, or yet experienced champions league football on a regular basis. The only name which comes to mind, in terms of the kind of player I believe we have been lacking is probably Harry Kane. There are other players who I would have liked to have seen us sign with the Pogba money, such as Eriksen or Kroos, yet we already have Pjanic for an attacking midfielder role, and to purchase two for big money would be pointless. For we are not Real Madrid, we do not have the capacity to have 50m+ players on the bench. And so we have to focus on building a world class starting XI and then play our cards more carefully for the rest of the squad, to cover and compete.
I am shocked, but happy. The move makes sense. Although I believe we will also add another midfielder to the ranks, which I hope is Matic.
Pogba is an immensely marketable player, of wondrous potential, cool looks and explosive talent, yet he is not the finished product, as we have seen at Juve and with France. He is nowhere near yet a world beater.
The market has gone berserk in terms of fees, and I see this move, if it happens, as the club being drawn into the circus by Pogba and Raiola seeking huge riches, whicb bring us huge riches, which we have spent to vastly improve the one position remaining in obvious need of an upgrade in quality.
Is Lemina a prospect? Who will he displace eventually GP?
As for the spending of Pogba money I still feel J stadium could do with another 10k seats. I still have a theory that for some players (perhaps players including Pogs) they just don’t see us a giant clu b like MU, RM BM etc with a smallish stadium. I did say I would expand on that last season but never got around to it. Maybe this year.
Interesting old website article (bianconeri.tripod) that suggested that Turin residents neither appreciated not deserved Juventus to be in their town with low attendance figures, when on the road Juve got 80k to turn up for a ‘home’ leg of UEFA cup vs Parma in Milan. Maybe now we can push on from 40k to 50k turn out….
I’ve not been as impressed with him as others, DB. In our colours with his showings long before this evening…This evening he was dreadful. Several chances in the box every one of which he scuffed. Passing is OK. Likes to use the outside of his right boot. Gets forward in attacks well. There is something there. Yet he was the worst player on the field, and I am talking of a field of mainly Juve youngsters and…Melbourne Victory, a team who finished 6th in the league here in Australia last season.
He will replace nobody. I assume we will sell him.
I am tired, and will perhaps offer a different appraisal in my report. Yet I figured we signed him as he has something to offer and was a very cheap price, by modern standards, for a player of his age. I assumed we might keep him a year, yet have been unsurprised to see plenty of rumours of his sale, for a little more than we paid for him.
Your mention of the stadium size, especially when compared to others where Pogba is heading, is sensible and wise. Something I will ponder more when I wake from the slumber which is not just beckoning but desperately sought…
WHAAAAT?! No way! Its pricey, but this is such a jump in quality up front.. Dybala – Higuain is mouth-watering!
Yes Pogba will be gone for it, but if he doesnt have Juve in his mind and heart for 100%, I am okay with him leaving.
Same opinion here, Belgian…We have pretty much swapped Pogba for Higuain, yet have money left to spend on another midfielder. And I respect the club’s unwavering stance to any player who wants to leave. If it turns out to be United, I understand the allure of forsaking a season in elite competition to become the fulcrum of a side clearly been designed to become world beaters, yet at the same time, it lessens my respect for the Pogba, to have made the move now, when it cannot be broached without focusing the the money. He has so many years ahead of him, could well have joined United next season when they are back in the premier league, remained at Juve, when we have improved the squad and he is well loved and brilliantly treated, yet he has moved now.
Perhaps he enjoyed himself in Manchester. Or he is more friendly with more players in England? Regardless, its hard to see this as motivated by Raiola as much as Pogba, both wanting the mega riches on offer. Which is understandable, though makes him less worthy of at least my respect. For no true champion wants to be outside of elite competition once they find themselves there.
Still, it is a lot easier for me to spout that the difference between 7m a season and 12m a season is meaningless, when you are to earn 100s of millions in your career, than for Pogba, who is actually in that situation to say the same.
I will wish him well, but see him from hereon as either less of a true champion, or rather easily led…
Well, maybe we hit the jackpot and we dont sell Pogba.. I rather doubt it, but I also doubted Higuain arriving!
With Higuain in the ranks, our chances of winning that elusive CL trophy are so much higher, even if it costs us Pogba.. As you elaborated on here too, Pogba is not a game decider the way Higuain is. And I think apt replacement for Pogba can be found.
TGP I will firmly agree with everything you said, once official confirmation of Pogba’s departure arrives. Up until then, he has nothing but respect from me and more.
“It’s not a stretch to imagine that this move, if it takes place, could
mean the transfer of Paul Pogba from Juventus to Manchester United.”
Ah for fucks sake, this shit again… Pogba to ManU rumours are worse than sponsored content. 😛
Also, I don’t believe the transfer until I’ve seen them smiling with our All-Seeing God.
I just call it like i see Peter ! Not saying i agree with it, but the lack of confirmation from Pogba, Beppe or anyone else makes me think this kind deal takes place because of a Pogba sale – A way to keep the fans happy with his departure.
I don;t know if you use twitter at all, but the meltdown on there over the last few weeks has been remarkable.
My hope is that he still remains
As for Higuain, there is a very good chance of this happening – There are reports from a lot of trusted transfer people, not the usual gang
I will keep you updated 😉
It’s fine, write whatever you think is right!
It’s just such a shit deal for Pogba. I mean the guy left ManU to play (important) games. Why would he leave Juve for a club which doesn’t play in CL this season? I mean it could be different IF they actually managed to qualify, but they didn’t. He’s a guy with ambition, he wants to be the best individually so he says. I think he can stay around with this solid squad which requires a few more cogs to be perfect, than joining a brand new thing.
We’ll see.
….. hold me, internets.
a mad day, a mad transfer – still trying to wrap my head around this.
Price seems….steep
I woke up at an ungodly hour to watch Juve’s game so I’m already a bit cranky from lack of sleep…. and then this. The only way I’m not going to seethe is if we keep Pogba. I know Pogba isn’t the end-all-be-all and whatever but I want him to lift the CL cup with us, dammit.
it needs to happen – he was part of the journey that got us to this stage – if he’s not there at the end of it (if it happens) then it just wouldn;t feel right,
Why trade the team that is your family for playing in the EL ??? madness
Specially this year, when Juve have made it more than clear that they’re building a team for Europe. Like, if I were a player I’d be excited to stick around… now more than ever. Regardless of what ends up happening, the club is obviously moving in that direction… what more can you ask?!?!
yes but the fact that we are signing a worldclass no9 so much soften this price issue.
DYGUAIN!!!!
I am not entirely convinced that this transfer is a result of Pogba leaving, despite the prevalent opinion. Its more than possible that this signing was completed in an effort to keep Pogba. With sale of Hernanes, Pereyra, Lemina, Isla, and possibly Rugani, we can afford Higuain and Pogba. Or maybe I’m just in denial.
…. oh, no, Universe, nooo. If we sell Rugani I am going to do more than seethe. That would just be plain stupid from our administration. Specially FOR HIGUAÍN.
Rugani or Zaza
…… dammit. But if I HAVE to choose, Rugani. Every day.
Zaza is more dispensable, but still losing either would hurt.
Definitely!
zaza is a good striker whereas rugani will be a worldclass CB.
https://data.whicdn.com/images/2786450/large.jpg
That’s a better one of his face though right Elisa? He’s looking worse the older he gets (and his current beard).
>:(
*sigh*
We wont sell Rugani! The rest is entirely dispensable!
I hope you’re right.. I don’t wanna have to fly to Torino and knock a few heads together…
I’ve flown to Torino so many times to bash some heads in and put headquarters on fire. If you’re willing to take over, it will save me alot of trouble 🙂
I’m on it!
i feel like that too…but i am prepared for Pogba’s departure.
The incessant transfer talk made me think a move could well be happening – The silence on his part is deafening.
Get rid of the deadwood and we have enough to raise Pogba’s salary – The Higuain money could come from elsewhere
I don’t think Pogba’s silence means that much. Sure we would all prefer him releasing a statement about his love for Juve and his desire to stay for a long time, but that’s just not how he is. Even in an interview in October 2013 he said he doesn’t know what his future holds. And he stayed for two consecutive summers after that. Maybe it is a combination of him actually being unsure about what to do with his career plus pressure from his agent.
Its entirely possible, some journalists calculated this too, it can be done with keeping Pogba, but since it is so strongly rumoured that he is going back to United, it just seems to be so.
I rather see those guys go and keep Pogba obviously! Would be a 10/10 transfer market, my god!
How much so you believe those players will fetch, mr G? My own estimates would be –
Hernanes 5-7m
Isla 3-5m
Pererya 7.5-12m
Lemina 10-15m
Rugani 15-20m
Zaza -15-25m
We sell 6 players and likely do not get to the fee for Higuain, then need to fill 5 spaces on the squad. With who? Youth team players who have never played senior football? Returning loan players who have far from excelled elsewhere? For example, Marrone?
It is not as simple as selling a handful of player to fund the purchase of one player, for the spaces in the squad need to be filled and to fill them with unproven talent or average players is a huge risk which relies ever more on a strong and exceptionally fit first XI and hopes to avoid injuries and suspensions and precludes confidence in the ability of the manager to rotate.
Yes yes! If any premier league clubs are interested in the above players, then the prices may/will be higher…but the fact remains that at best we need to sell 3-4 players to finance the Higuain move and then find 3-4 players to replace them (including Higuain). Or sell Pogba.
In terms of Serie A competition, this the equivalent of bringing an F16 fighter jet to a knife fight…
hahaha.. Very well said.
You mean Serie A will be like Ligue 1 now?
Bundesliga more. We are like Bayern buying all the top players from our rivals.
According to the media it looks like Pogba is going to Utd. But considering Higuains’ emergence and Pogba’s admirable friendship with Allegri, Evra, Dybala etc. – I think he’s staying.
Rugani nearly scored today against Melbourne Victory.
Neopolitans taking news better than expected (if true)
https://www.gazzettaworld.com/video/napoli-fan-burns-higuain-jersey/
Thats a moderate Neapolitan action indeed 😛
Holy flying pie, what madness is this! Super excited for Higuain, despite the enormous cost. But he is world class. No doubt about it. And to my idea, he will fit in at Juve nicely.
I know many people here dont like Higuain or think he is too expensive, but I feel so confident he will do well, I daresay we will call this transfer a steal at the end of next season.
(Please dont fail me now Higuain xD)
I don’t think i will ever call 94 million a steal, even if he scores the winner in the CL final. Good deal, sure, but steal… :p
XD
if this is fukn truth, god damn yeah, but now lets get back to earth, now we really need pogba’ replacement, who could fit in? matic looks good , but we will not get him for 20 m now, maybe 30m now, who else? gomes gone to uefalona, damn no one comes to my mind, your opinion guys??
Matic – we have a decent chunk of money left over if UTD are paying 100+ million GBP’s.
20% goes to raiola, dont forgetr
From what I read UTD will pay that as an extra fee.
Pogba is not leaving!!Have you read Allegri comments.
nope, havent yet, what did he say?
It’ll be hard to accept this move if it is only to soften the blow of losing Pogba. If we had them both, this could be the greatest Juve side of all-time, at least in my lifetime of the last 20 years.
I couldn’t agree with you on that score, comrade! The side we had in 05/06 was immense. Buffon, Thuram, Cannavarro, Chiellini, Zambrotta, Emerson, Marchisio, Viera, Nedved, Camoranesi, Del Piero, Ibrahimovic. Trezeguet…Nope, that was better!
damn! what a side, but this one we are building up might be just as good, if pogba stays.
How about this one from the first time I saw them at home vs Foggia in 94 – 95 season:
JUVENTUS: Peruzzi, Ferrara C., Torricelli, M. Carrera, Porrini, Paulo Sousa (Di Livio 55), Deschamps, A. Conte, Vialli, Baggio R. (Del Piero 70), Ravenelli.
Baggio and Ravenelli scored in 2-0. Not too shabby huh!
Awesome defense….
Speaking as someone who absolutely worship’s ADP. I think this side now might be on par with the 05 Juve. Higguain and Dybala and Pjanic is a fucking scary line up. However this isnt confirmed yet and even if it is they will be Judged by the results so I guess we will wait and see but damn is it exciting
Im mindblown. Never did i ever see higuain in a juve jersey.the fee is crazy, but fuck it. If we have the funds, then why not. Hea ine of the beat finishers in the world and he surpassed maradona in serie a and lead napoli through a very strong season last year.
It hasnt happened officially yet, but damn if it does.
I never imagined Tevez in a Juve jersey either.
Yea we ve never had much luck with the argentines it seems, but i guess its all changing
Trezeguet, another french born Argie, just happens to be our last prolific goal-scorer…
You shouldnt, hes a handsome man :p
reports coming out suggesting juve offering 3 players plus cash. Which in my opinion is a better deal (just not Rugani please)
I hope its zaza peryera abd sturaro. Hopefully not Rugani.!!!
It’s funny how by making this move we can already say that another scudetto it’s on our way even if Pogba leaves. I am still sceptical that we are wiling to pay this much but the story seems to gain momentum and the things that are said in the media by napoli fans and officials really made me think it could be possible.
If this move is going to be made this is the reward for our carefully planed economic state of the business and the fact that in the last years we have taken a step further to the top European teams every year. Anyway I think it’s a good time to be a Bianconero and we should enjoy this period and thank the officials of this club, officials that deserve our full credit.
But some players like Zaza Sturaro Hernanes Pereyra has to leave, hasnt they?
I would rather see Mandzukic go than Zaza honestly. And apparently West Ham is interested, where Zaza already turned down PL and Bundesliga interest
why????zaza is technically below in the pecking order than mandzukic.
Well, the starting duo will be Dybala and Higuain. So Mandzukic drops to the bench. Coming off the bench, Zaza can make much more of an impact than Mandzu can.
Zaza is faster and has more of a high energy burst that he brings into play. Mandzukic is a hard worker, but unless he gets the perfect assist, he doesnt do that much to win games.
Plus Zaza is what, 5-6 years younger? We should cash in on Mandzukic now that we can.
Just my two cents on it mate!
You rather see Zaza go? I can understand that too, but its not my idea of what Juve should do
well mandzukic is a very key player imo.he shd not leave. mandzukic is a great CL striker also.
He didnt show up for me in the CL. Especially not against Bayern 🙁 in that particular game Zaza should have played.
he was pivotal in turin.while in munich he had an average game due to fitness.
Valuable, yes. Important, yes. Pivotal however.. No, not at all. Tevez was pivotal, Dybala was pivotal, Mandzukic not even close to that level.
in that game he was great and he is clearly a better striker than zaza by miles.
What game do you mean? We’ll have to agree to disagree i guess mate!
juve vs Bayern at juventus stadium
yes agree to disagree.
Zaza didnt play in that game at all
i saw him running on neuer and we all know what he did with the chance…did shit
Yes. I think till today the same.
he is too slow, no technique, no shot from distance, cant dribble, all he can do is to poach and head in. sorry but this is almost nothing in modern football.
I think Mandzukic is the kind of striker you don’t notice working, as you don’t notice Marchisio either. The fact that he is there in the middle of their defence makes them worried at every corner or freekick we get.
Also I just fucking love his style and I wish we would be giving him many more balls to score. He’s not flashy, but I think he is good to have.
I’d have Zaza to take on Morata’s role, and keep all of them, they’ll be needed.
I wouldnt really say that about Mandzu, he is a very visible player I’d say. He seems to be everywhere, but that is part of the problem for me.
Its great to see him work so hard all over the pitch, but he is absolute garbage when we play counterattacking football, he is too slow to be efficient and he is too often not up front to receive the ball. As prima punta he has to be free to receive balls more often.
Thats why I prefer Zaza mostly, he has more pace and a burst of speed Mario can never match.
Doesnt mean Mario HAS to go for me, but if I have to choose, its him for me.
Besides that, looking at the economic aspect, we can make a profit ok Mandzukic now, but soon enough that wont be possible anymore. Zaza is younger and has time on his side
I agree. Dont want to lwt any of our atrikers go. I prefer Zaza, that it no way means i see mandzukic as lesser than him. Its hard to be considered a top striker unless you bang in goals. Mandzukic adds more than goals. Hes an intimidating striker to play against, and his work rate only adds to that. His style of play is also key. Butbthe thing with zaza isbthat hes very similar. Surprised Conte didnt use him kuch in the euros
I prefer Zaza ove rmandzujic too. Polish up that finishing and techniqur and wr have ourselves a quality cf
Any more clarity on which players are used for this transfer?
I have seen no official statement of the transfer either, not that i dont believe the reports
Maybe Buffon?